Epidemiologist blasts UFC for 'bogus' COVID-19 protocols
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Dr. Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University in Atlanta, doesn't believe the UFC's coronavirus protocols were properly executed ahead of Saturday's event in Jacksonville.
Less than 24 hours before the event, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and two members of his camp tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the cancellation of the middleweight contender's bout with Uriah Hall.
Souza trains in Orlando and drove to Jacksonville on Wednesday. He informed the UFC upon his arrival that a family member might've tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto. The 40-year-old then self-isolated "whenever possible," the UFC said in a statement, but he appeared at the official weigh-ins Friday morning before his test results came back.
Binney said the way things unfolded is problematic, adding that Souza shouldn't have traveled to Jacksonville in the first place if he knew there was a possible positive test in his family.
The @UFC and @danawhite were negligent. Tried to restart early, the predictable thing happened, & they mishandled it.
— Zachary Binney, PhD (@zbinney_NFLinj) May 9, 2020
-Souza travels Orlando -> Jax w/ known family case
-Even after rptg to UFC, "isolates" in same hotel as others for 2 days til test result, but goes to staredown? https://t.co/NJUm5AAsU3
Two cornermen have also tested +. So that's 3 cases that appear to have been staying in the host hotel for 2 days at least 1 of whom, despite "self-isolating whenever possible", at least went to a staredown.
— Zachary Binney, PhD (@zbinney_NFLinj) May 9, 2020
If this was your system working as designed, your system is bogus.
UFC president Dana White said Souza's positive test proved the promotion's COVID-19 protocols were effective, according to Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. However, Binney doesn't agree with that.
No, I don't buy this is the system working as designed and proof @ufc and @danawhite are being responsible. At least two very bad things happened:
— Zachary Binney, PhD (@zbinney_NFLinj) May 9, 2020
-An infected fighter traveled
-An infected fighter *with a family case you knew about* was allowed at a staredown
Binney said he hopes Souza, the two infected cornermen, and everyone they came into contact with in Jacksonville will self-quarantine for two weeks to stop their particular transmission chain.
Souza was the only athlete slated for UFC 249 who tested positive for COVID-19. Fighters were tested for the virus twice this past week - right when they checked into the hotel (Wednesday for many fighters) and then again after the Friday weigh-ins.
The UFC sent out an email Sunday to the fighters set for the May 13 and 16 cards, which will also take place in Jacksonville, asking if they have any coronavirus symptoms and if they've been exposed to anyone who may have been infected, sources told ESPN's Ariel Helwani.